Process of preparing transfer-surfaces for receiving printing impressions.



PATENTED MAY), 1907.

. G. R. CORNWALL. PROCESS OF PREPARING TRANSFER SURFACES POR'REOEIVING PRINTING IMPRESSIONS. A'PPLIOATION FILED MAY 2a. 1902.

i .H I I L V 1 H x r V a H I U r :i u

Witnesses.-

UNITED STATES FATE-N T @FFTCE.

I GEORGE R. CORNWALL, OF RYEJNEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN IL.-L\'()GRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, Y, A CORiUIiATION OF cs'r VIRGINLA.

No. ssawe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lamented May 7, 1907.

Application filed May 28, 1903. Serial No. 159.092.

1 all 1.11/1 0721, Lt DMZ/.1] concern.-

Be it known that f, Gsonon R. (JORX A L, a citizen of the United States, residing at I in the county of \Vestchester and State of i\ew York, have invented a new and useful Process of Preparing Transfer-Surfaces for Receiving Printing Impressions, of which the following is a full and complete specification.

My invention relates to printing or mak ing im ressions upon a transfer surface, from w iich the im ressions are subsequently transferred to a lit ogra hie or planographic printing surface from W ich latter an indefinite number of reproductions may be obtained in the well known manner employed iri lithography or planography; and my invention has for an object to obtain im ressions upon the transfer surface which sha I always be clearly and sharply defined and not faint or bliu'red. This and other objects of invention will more fully appear hereinafter.

The material of which transfer surfaces are. usually composed are hygroscopic in character, or comprise an ingredient possessing hygroscopic properties. The free and extensive absorption of moisture by the material of which the transfer surface is composed ap ears to be useful and necessary in the trans erring operation, the transfer or the printed characters from one surface to the other being probably accomplished largely by the dissolution of the material of which the transfer surface is composed.

The hygroscopic property of the transfer surface, while it is useful and perhaps necessary in the o )eration of transferring, as above indicate also causes the transfer material to absorb moisture from the atmos phere prior to the printing operation. This is especially the case during periods of great atmos )heric humidity. The ink usually employed in printing upon such surfaces for transferring to surfaces adapted to be prepared for printing planographically is of a greasy nature. It is therefore obvious that if the transfer surface absorbs a considerable quantity of moisture prior to the printing operation, or carries a film of moisture, that there will not be good adhesion of the greasy ink upon the said surface and consequently faint and insullicient printing. of the characters, and the slight imprint secured is also frequently blurred. It 18 therefore necessary to temporarily neutralize the hygroscopic and prevent the formation thereon of a film of moisture, or 1f said hlm be formed, as

, I l I y i i above indicated, to remove. the moisture and I preserve a dry surface for receiving the impression in order to secure satisfactory results from the printing and transferring. operations. 'lheremedying of these defects generally in the manner indicated is contemplated by this invention.

' The invention is applicable to various forms of printing means for printing upon transfer surfaces, and is herein shown as applied to a composing machine of the type which prints character by character. in connection with such a machine, and in the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an apparatus for carrying out my process.

1 indicates a type carrier, from which im. pressions are taken, which impressions are taken upon a transfer sheet, indicated at 8.

\ In the drawing, the type carrier is shown in the form of a typewheel, having the type arranged around its periphery. Mounted so able inking rolls 2, 2 which supply the type with ink. A platen 3 is mounted, upon a carriage 4-, which carries feed rolls 5, whereby the transfer or impression-rccciving paper is i moved from time to time to print anew line, I and the carriage is also provided with suitable means (not shown) for imparting longitudinal movement thereto along the line of printing, on guides 12. These devices being of any usual or suitable kind and well known in typographic or typcwriting arts, it is not deemed necessary to show the same in detail,

Theimpressions are made by giving the platen 3 a movement toward the type wheel. The means for acccimilishing such movement are here shown as consisting of a toggle 6, one end of which is nivotally secured to a stationary portion of the machine. frame and the other end secured to the carriage. To the knuckle of the toggle is connected a l tie rod 7, the lower end of which is connected with an eccentric, as shown. ,Upon rotation of the shaft on which the eccentric is mountof the rod 7, and the carriage is given an impression movement toward the type. It

properties of the transfer impression surface as to contact with said type wheel are suitas they form no part of my present invention.

ed the toggleis operated tl'irough the medium what in advance of the impression point, so

as to pass over the surface at the place of impression and circumjacent thereto. Before reaching the delivery outlet the air or. gas may be made to pass through a desiccator 14, arranged in its path. The desiccating 'means in said chamber may consist of any suitable desiccating agent, calcium chlorid being an example of such an agent; Also a there may be arranged in the course of said air or gas conduit or pipe a device 13, for altering the temperature of the air or gas. This 'may be either a cooling or heating device. It is preferable, however, to employ means for warming or heating the air, since this augments the .dryingaction thereof and makes it more effective. Thisheating means may consist, as shown, ,of a coil of pipe 10, arranged in a suitable chamber so as teri al for. receiving to be surrounded by a heating medium.. A valve .10 is provided near the delivery outlet of the pi e10,'to control the deliveryof the dried an warmed air or gas.

From the above description it will be seen that my invention consists in applying to-the transfer surface, just in advance of and at .the oint of impression, a moisture-removing meuum which temporarily neutralizes the hygrosco ic action of. the transfer impression su acejmd prevents the fOIIZHfldZlOII thereon of a film of moisture or ifsaid film be formed it removes the moisture and pref-scrves-a .dry surface for receiving the impresslon.

It will be apparent that any moisture-removing medium may-be employed, such for instance as a dust or dosiqcatin powder,

which may be blown on thetrans or surface by a current of air and afterward removed. According-to the conditions of the atmosphere the air current employed maybe heated or cooled by .means of the device 13, as

described. It will generally, however; be preferable to heat'the air current. I As a result' fmy process the transfer sur-.

face is at all tiines preserved in the best conof the atmosphere and the length of time the transfer surface may be exposedthereto.

Having thus described my invention, the

fol-lowing is what I claim as new therein and f desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The process of preparing a transfer material for receiving printing impressions which-{comprises applying at and circumiay cent to the place of impression an agent removing moisture from the transfer material.

terial for receiving. pr nting impressions to the act of making an impression :1. mois sion.

3. The processof preparing a transfer material for receiving printing impressions which comprises applying'atand circumjae, cent to the place of iin ression immediately prior'to the act of ma ing an impression; a; moisture-removing agent a 2. The process of preparing a transfer ma l which comprises applying'immediatelyprior' I ture-removing agent at the place of impres-.,

4, The process ofpreparmg a transfer ma- 1 a,

terial for receiving printing impressions which comprises apply ng moisture-remov ing air or gas at the place of impression imniediately prior to the act pf making an'im-I pr'essiont i. v

5.- The process of preparing ,a transfer ma printing which comprises desiccating air or othergas 9 impressions and directing a current of said air or gas upon I and over the transfer material at-the place of impression immediatelyprior to thfacjt. of

makin an impression.

6. T e process of preparing a transfer ma.- terial for receiving printing impressions which comprises heating air or other gas and directing a'current ofsaid air or" gas upon and over the transfer material at the place of 1 impression immediately prior-to the act of making an nnpresslon.

7. The process of preparing a transfer'mai a terial for receiving printing impressions whichicomprises maintaining at and adja: cent to theplace of impression an agent for neutralizing transfer material. 1 a

8. Theprocess' of preparing a transfer m8- terial for receiving printing impressions the hygroscopic action of the which comprises maintaining at and adja'e",

cent to the place'of impression an atmos:

phere for neutralizing the hygroscopic action of the transfer material. k

, oEo. R. coaNWAL v Witnesses: I i I J. GREEN, I H. C. WORKMAN. 

